Has your journey into dance influenced the work you make?
I got into dance because life was a little bit challenging for me as a young person. I became a carer for my mum and dance was my way of expressing and releasing. I had to grow up quite quickly, but when I was in the dance class, I could be my age.
I don’t believe that you need to have a PhD to understand dance. For me, it’s about making work where people are impacted and have an experience. There was a period of time where I had to fight myself about: am I making art, or am I making entertainment? Now I claim those words, it is about making work that’s accessible, where even if people don’t fully get what’s going on, there’s something in the work that they connect with, and that speaks to them.
Is it true Our Mighty Groove was inspired by an experience you had in New York?
Oh, we’re going there? I wanted to explore different dance styles, and got a bursary, which enabled me to go to New York in 2008. We had just finished a house dance class, and the teachers would always say that to understand the style, you’ve got to take it out of the classroom. So I head to this club, and am met with the most incredible group of human beings. The vibe was jumping, people were getting down. And a strange thing happened – all my confidence left me. I was telling myself, I’m not good enough, I don’t belong. I had my back up against the wall, and every so often, people would come up to try to get me to dance. And all I could say was, Oh, no, no, I’m from London. So cringy, but it’s all I had!
Eventually this individual wearing a pink crown made of sausage balloons started getting closer and closer. They didn’t speak a word, just extended their hand and motioned for me to follow. It was as if there was a magnetic force. I found myself move off the wall and into the centre, and the magical thing was everyone cheered me on. I was getting, ‘Yes, Mama!’ ‘Work!’ ‘Go, girl!’. They made me feel like Janet Jackson. Something happened in that moment. I was unlocked as a human being. I was empowered as a woman, as an artist. I danced hard and was one of the last people to leave. I wanted to create something to give other people this experience of connection and celebration, and that was how the idea of Our Mighty Groove was born.
Was it challenging to create mass choreography for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012?
It’s about treating people with respect and kindness. The scale is different, but the people are still people. And on a practical level, my warm ups are really good at getting people involved.
The opening ceremony itself was euphoric, a mind-blowing, out of body experience. Hearing the roar of the audience – it’s giving me goosebumps now to remember it.
You also coach and mentor women, with the mission statement: think fierce, be fabulous, live free spirited.
A big part of my work is working with established creatives. The dance industry can be nice and at times not so nice. My thing is all about how I can support you to kickstart the habit of putting you first. Because a lot of my clients are like, I’ve got to show up for everyone else, and if there’s any energy left, I can show up for me. I flip that on its head, because if you’re not in a good place, you won’t be able to show up for the people that you want to. I ask: what would it look, feel, taste, sound and smell like, for you to put you first? I’m part of your support team, and together, we can figure that out.
Why does dance matter to you?
Why does dance matter to me? It’s who I am at my core, and it’s one of the things that I use to help people discover who they are. It’s the chosen language for me to communicate and to help people understand that you are enough, and the moment you put yourself first is the moment that life will grow and move for you. When I was that 13 year old girl who had to become an adult and look after my mum and my three sisters, that was the thing that kept me sane, injected some fun and hope into my life. So that’s why it matters for me.
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Hear the full interview with Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu
